1478 Verse 2285

Original

धर्ममात्रमिदं तेषां न वस्त्वन्तरमिष्यते ।
इत्थं प्रतीयमानाः स्युर्वर्णाश्चैवावबोधकाः ॥ २२८५ ॥

dharmamātramidaṃ teṣāṃ na vastvantaramiṣyate |
itthaṃ pratīyamānāḥ syurvarṇāścaivāvabodhakāḥ || 2285 ||

“As a matter of fact, the order or arrangement is only a property of the letters; it is not regarded to be a distinct entity by itself. the idea, in fact, is that what are expressive are the letters as cognised in the said order—[Ślokavārtika—eternality of letters, 286-287].—(2285)

Kamalaśīla

‘Not a distinct entity’—i.e., as expressive independently by itself. Otherwise, there would be real difference between the Property and the Object to which it belongs,—which difference is not desirable.

Question:—What is it then that is expressive?

Answer;—‘The idea in fact, etc. etc.’—‘Ittham’, in a particular order. What is meant is as follows:—It is not merely the Order that is expressive;—nor the Order as subsisting in the Letters;—nor merely the Letters; what are expressive are the Letters as arranged in a certain order; hence in the matter of expression, the Order is not the principal factor; because the Letters are cognised as having the Order; hence the Order occupies only a secondary position; and it is the Letters that are recognised as the thing possessing that Order as their property. This is what is meant by the Text.—(2285)